Looking ahead

I had dinner the other night with some friends in the real estate industry. Like most of you do when the end of the year comes around, we looked back at 2010 and prior. While we all agreed that things are getting better, we did spend a lot of time reliving stories about the good old days when things were better.

There is certainly nothing wrong with telling stories about the past and having a few laughs. I do, however, think it is important not to dwell on it. We all know Winston Churchill’s famous quote: “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

The past gives us good insight on pitfalls and what to do differently in this business. Dwelling on what was just gets in the way of where we need to go. The past can sometimes cloud our vision and make us less able to adapt.

To quote from John Richardson: “When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” I want to be part of those who make it happen in 2011.